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"A striker is the top priority," said Curle. "We need more of a cutting-edge up front.

"We spoke to Jason Scotland after I got alerted about his pay-off at Ipswich and we were close to the finances and then, at the last minute, he got a call from Barnsley and we couldn't match the wages they were offering.

"But it shows we're competing with teams at the lower end of the Championship with the players we're trying to bring in.

"The worst thing was that it got out that he was training with us. When other clubs get alerted, you get into a bidding war so if anyone asks me what targets I've got now, I'm not going to say anything."

Chairman Ray Trew is not the only person digging into his pocket to pay for a new striker either.

Curle says his kitty has been boosted by player fines, with Francois Zoko and captain Neal Bishop both stopped wages after being sent off this month.

Bishop was red carded at Fratton Park and is now facing a three-game ban, after slapping Portsmouth midfielder Johnny Ertl in the face.

"The ref said he raised his hands and if you do that you are always going to be in trouble," said Curle.

"It doesn't matter whether it's a playful pat on the face or a haymaker of a right hand that knocks somebody spark out you still get sent off.